AV Research

DTS and IMAX are now extending their IMAX Enhanced certification system to loudspeakers, so consumers will know which speakers will get them closer to that IMAX experience at home. The first speakers in line to receive certification are the higher-end models from Polk Audio and Definitive Technology. Will the only speakers to be IMAX Enhanced certified be expensive high-performance speakers? Will the certification be watered down to include mediocre speakers? How does it compare to THX certification for loudspeakers? Read on to find out.

Ever wonder how your favorite manufacturer rates power consumption on their AV receivers and how it relates to maximum available output power to your speakers? This article explores the topic of power consumption ratings in AV receivers and gives examples of power calculations for real products. Unless the product states "maximum power consumption" on the back panel, don't assume that it is. Read on to learn more about what that back panel rating really means.

Feedback is an ubiquitous and unavoidable basic technique that keeps the world running. It is only controversial in audio, and then only specifically in power amplifiers. As more respected manufacturers are coming out of the closet concerning their heavy and happy use of feedback, the myth is increasingly on the back foot. Here we present a pseudo-interview to help answer questions about feedback which is a fascinating and complex topic that lies at the core of successful design.

After launching a limited, mobile-only Dolby Atmos Music experience last December, Tidal is now offering the real deal. Subscribers to Tidal’s $20/month HiFi tier can now stream Dolby Atmos Music to their Atmos-capable AV receivers or sound-bars, bringing immersive music into the living room and home theater environments. So far, only a handful of third-party streaming devices are compatible, but more are expected. Read on to learn more.

When Dolby released Atmos, it was done in concert with their surround upmixer which does a great job enhancing 2CH music thanks to a key feature Dolby is now removing from new products. We don't understand why "center spread' is being eliminated but implore you to voice your concerns to Dolby and your favorite receiver manufacturer if you feel this to be an important feature for your music playback enjoyment . Perhaps we can all be part of a collective voice to persuade Dolby to reverse this decision so we can all enjoy the benefits of our multi-channel speaker system for our 2CH music sources.

First announced in 2017, the HDMI 2.1 Specification will finally become reality in late 2020 when both Sony and Microsoft deliver new gaming consoles packed with the latest HDMI tech. The spec is designed to improve audio and video quality, while also improving the overall experience for the home user through eARC. Read on and watch our 3-part YouTube interview with Phil Jones of Sound United to learn more about the new features offered by HDMI 2.1, and the new cables you may or may not need to make it all work.

Feedback is an ubiquitous and unavoidable basic technique that keeps the world running. It is only controversial in consumer audio, and then only specifically in power amplifiers. Some audiophiles believe too much negative feedback will diminish sound quality in amplifiers while others believe no feedback is even better. Is any of this true or is it just another audiophile myth needing to be busted?

It’s looking like 2020 will be the year that the high-end LCD TV meets its end. Like CRT and plasma TVs in years past, LCD TV is reaching the end of its life, at least in the high-end market. Longtime LCD champion Samsung is ceasing production of LCD panels, and starting to build its own custom version of OLED TVs that will utilize quantum dot technology. Read on to learn more.

Check any audiophile facebook group or forum and you will find dozens of enthusiasts asking "what are the best cables to use with my audio components?" There are never shortages of recommendations from fellow enthusiasts and sometimes even industry experts have their own recommendations too. PS Audio recently announced a partnership with Audioquest citing that their products have a real "synergy" together. Is there any merit to this claim or is it pure marketing BS?

Sound United LLC announced that several Denon and Marantz products received Roon Tested accreditation. This certification enables music lovers to seamlessly stream music from a Roon server or Roon Core devices to 68 Denon and Marantz products for a visually rich, and easy-to-use listening experience. To see what we think of these new additions read on...

The vinyl record industry may experience shortages of new releases after the plant that made some 75% of the world’s blank lacquers burned to the ground. But it won’t be the apocalyptic “vinylgeddon” suggested by some. Delayed new releases on vinyl may begin sometime in the next year, but the real long-term tragedy could be a permanent loss of some homegrown American record manufacturing. Will Vinyl media adapt and survive? Read on to find out.

Many of today’s vented subwoofers and full-range tower speakers offer port plugs for sealing the cabinet and making them behave like sealed speakers. But this does not result in a true acoustic suspension system, which is quite a different animal altogether from a merely “sealed” speaker. Let’s explore the difference between acoustic suspension and sealed and see if today’s designers aren’t missing an opportunity to make some great products.

Not long after Dolby announced the Home Atmos format, Audioholics ran some competing predictions about its potential for success and failure. Now, more than five years later, we take stock of how Home Atmos has panned out and which predictions were right and which were also wrong. Read our assessment of where Dolby Atmos stands today relating to the home theater environment.

Stereo Bass- Myth or fact? A must have feature for some, but neglected by most. In this article Audioholics will explore the concept of stereo bass, introduce are preferred term of bassiousness (base-shush-ness), and provide some guidance on maximizing it’s effect. We also provide our own take on how we choose to incorporate stereo bass into our own systems, or not due to inherent tradeoffs. To find out what we think, read on.